Hi everyone!
I've been reading lots of your posts for the past couple hours, ever since I got the call from my GI doctor telling me that I have LC. They're really informative and I'm glad I found this place!
However, reading people's posts, it seems like most people are suffering a lot more than I am. I only have a few BMs a day (and sometimes only one), although they have been almost exclusively watery for the past several months (although, ironically, things have been better since my colonoscopy last week). I've been suffering from food-related explosive BMs for the past 10 years (since I was 15--I'll never forget my first incident, at a Cracker Barrel, which I still hate to this day) but I just thought that was my life. I only started seeing doctors about it a year or so ago, and only just recently went to the GI doctor. Anyway, now that I've been reading about people with MC, my symptoms just seem a lot less severe. Is that a good reason to question the diagnosis, or are there other people with MC who don't have as severe of symptoms?
If this is MC, I'm actually excited to have this diagnosed, as I've been living with the symptoms for a long time and this forum is giving me great ideas for where to go from here.
Molly
Is this really MC?
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Yah, MC does have a reputation as developing in middle to older age. I was similar to you though. I began showing symptoms when 15, and began seeing doctor after doctor then. For me the symptoms became worse over time. By the age of 20 I was ill each day, but not always terribly. The early 30s were the worst. I had a series of horrendous stomach attacks, not long after having a lower GI exam come to think of it, that threw me for a loop. Anyway, not to ramble on! Nice that you received a diagnosis. Hope it is correct, and that you are able to find relief in some form. I've done much better with the improved diet, a few supplements and over the counter medications from time to time. Good luck.
Hi Molly,
Welcome to our Internet family. Actually, MC (LC,CC) can cause stool consistency that varies from one patient to another and it can range from watery diarrhea to constipation, and anywhere in between. Some of us (me for example) had alternating D and C when we were reacting, and a few members have even had perfectly normal stools. But uncontrollable, watery, diarrhea is the predominant pattern.
Trust me, missed (overlooked) diagnoses of MC are as common as dirt (it's often misdiagnosed as IBS), but if you received a diagnosis of LC from a licensed pathologist, then there is absolutely no question that you have LC. If someone somewhere in the world were to be incorrectly diagnosed with MC, and she or he actually did not have the disease, the very next day the world would probably come to an end, because that simply never happens.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. I hope you can find the solutions that you are seeking here.
Tex
Welcome to our Internet family. Actually, MC (LC,CC) can cause stool consistency that varies from one patient to another and it can range from watery diarrhea to constipation, and anywhere in between. Some of us (me for example) had alternating D and C when we were reacting, and a few members have even had perfectly normal stools. But uncontrollable, watery, diarrhea is the predominant pattern.
Trust me, missed (overlooked) diagnoses of MC are as common as dirt (it's often misdiagnosed as IBS), but if you received a diagnosis of LC from a licensed pathologist, then there is absolutely no question that you have LC. If someone somewhere in the world were to be incorrectly diagnosed with MC, and she or he actually did not have the disease, the very next day the world would probably come to an end, because that simply never happens.
Yep, anyone here could have diagnosed you from a thousand miles away (or more) simply from that statement. It applies to no other disease, but it definitely pinpoints the hallmark of MC — absolute urgency that almost never offers a second chance.Molly wrote:I've been suffering from food-related explosive BMs for the past 10 years (since I was 15--I'll never forget my first incident, at a Cracker Barrel, which I still hate to this day)
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. I hope you can find the solutions that you are seeking here.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thank you both! Blueberry, your story seems like it might be closer to mine than the other ones I've read about, although I don't think I've gotten to the really bad parts yet. Hopefully they can be avoided by taking some steps to manage my diet and figure out what food intolerances I have!
My GI doctor wants me to come back in and get on some kind of medication (I don't know what kind yet, as I've only just received the phone call letting me know about the results of my biopsies and I haven't been back in). I really don't want to be on any medications--do you all think that it would be a really bad idea to try to work with my diet first and then fall back on medications as a last resort, if needed?
I'm just a little wary of long-term medications, and I have a friend who manages his Crohn's with only his diet, and he's doing much better than he ever was on medication. It seems like, from reading the posts on here, I could do the same with MC. What do you all think?
My GI doctor wants me to come back in and get on some kind of medication (I don't know what kind yet, as I've only just received the phone call letting me know about the results of my biopsies and I haven't been back in). I really don't want to be on any medications--do you all think that it would be a really bad idea to try to work with my diet first and then fall back on medications as a last resort, if needed?
I'm just a little wary of long-term medications, and I have a friend who manages his Crohn's with only his diet, and he's doing much better than he ever was on medication. It seems like, from reading the posts on here, I could do the same with MC. What do you all think?
Molly,
Many of us here have never used any of those anti-inflammatory medications. The meds will not heal the gut because they cannot prevent the inflammation from being regenerated. The reason why many members here choose to take meds in addition to the diet is because the meds will mask the symptoms while the diet changes are healing the gut. It just makes life a little easier, especially in cases where the symptoms are really debilitating.
Your doctor isn't likely to point this out to you, but the corticosteroids that are usually used to treat MC actually slow down healing (probably not a lot, but research shows that they do slow down healing). So many members here choose to do without the meds. Of course your doctor could have some other medication in mind. Some even prescribe antidepressants to try to treat the disease because they list constipation as a side effect.
But the decision is up to you — it's your body and your life. You can certainly do it without the meds.
You're very welcome,
Tex
Many of us here have never used any of those anti-inflammatory medications. The meds will not heal the gut because they cannot prevent the inflammation from being regenerated. The reason why many members here choose to take meds in addition to the diet is because the meds will mask the symptoms while the diet changes are healing the gut. It just makes life a little easier, especially in cases where the symptoms are really debilitating.
Your doctor isn't likely to point this out to you, but the corticosteroids that are usually used to treat MC actually slow down healing (probably not a lot, but research shows that they do slow down healing). So many members here choose to do without the meds. Of course your doctor could have some other medication in mind. Some even prescribe antidepressants to try to treat the disease because they list constipation as a side effect.
But the decision is up to you — it's your body and your life. You can certainly do it without the meds.You're very welcome,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Molly
welcome to the board!
lucky you having a 'mild' form of the MC! There have been quite a few people that have 'mild' symptoms and have had good and fairly quick improvement once they eliminate major triggers.
now is the perfect time to figure out your MC management plan, ie diet/lifestyle changes and optimise healing from what ever damage is there....
Implementing these changes and sticking with them for the long term will optimise the chances that you can avoid chronic illness later in life...
the key things I would consider doing;
- get your vitamin D level checked and start Vit D supplementation
- Figure out your major triggers, either via Elimination diet or Enterolab tests
- minimise fibre for now, to optimise healing
- read the success stories area - where you will see the variety of journeys etc and other aspects to 'keep in mind' should symptoms return.
Happy Healing
welcome to the board!
lucky you having a 'mild' form of the MC! There have been quite a few people that have 'mild' symptoms and have had good and fairly quick improvement once they eliminate major triggers.
now is the perfect time to figure out your MC management plan, ie diet/lifestyle changes and optimise healing from what ever damage is there....
Implementing these changes and sticking with them for the long term will optimise the chances that you can avoid chronic illness later in life...
the key things I would consider doing;
- get your vitamin D level checked and start Vit D supplementation
- Figure out your major triggers, either via Elimination diet or Enterolab tests
- minimise fibre for now, to optimise healing
- read the success stories area - where you will see the variety of journeys etc and other aspects to 'keep in mind' should symptoms return.
Happy Healing
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Thank you for your advice! I called my mom today to tell her about my diagnosis and was telling her about this message board, and she mentioned that 20 years ago this kind of community wouldn't have been possible (without the Internet). She's so right, and I feel so lucky to have been able to find you all on the day of my diagnosis! I spent last night and this morning worrying about what was going to be wrong with me, since my doctor had left me a message yesterday ominously saying that she had some "news" for me, but hadn't been able to get back to me until today. Then I found out I had microscopic colitis, and I had no idea what it was. But here I am only 8 hours later, using abbreviations like "MC," with an order scheduled with EnteroLab, and feeling like I finally have a path to getting better and people who can help me along the way! I feel so blessed--thank you all for being here!
Molly
Molly
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UkuleleLady
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:45 pm
- Location: Texas
Way to go, Molly! MC diagnosis can be a blessing in disguise (even if it doesn't seem that way). Eliminating gluten and other foods has benefited my health and well being in countless ways. And I never would have done that without this diagnosis.MollyK17 wrote:Thank you for your advice! I called my mom today to tell her about my diagnosis and was telling her about this message board, and she mentioned that 20 years ago this kind of community wouldn't have been possible (without the Internet). She's so right, and I feel so lucky to have been able to find you all on the day of my diagnosis! I spent last night and this morning worrying about what was going to be wrong with me, since my doctor had left me a message yesterday ominously saying that she had some "news" for me, but hadn't been able to get back to me until today. Then I found out I had microscopic colitis, and I had no idea what it was. But here I am only 8 hours later, using abbreviations like "MC," with an order scheduled with EnteroLab, and feeling like I finally have a path to getting better and people who can help me along the way! I feel so blessed--thank you all for being here!
Molly
Best of luck for many years of good health.
Nancy
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~The Dalai Lama
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Molly
it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but thanks to this board, and the wonderful caring supportive people here, you can get your life back.
Good on you for embracing it! reading and researching and finding your way. A big part of successful living with MC is our mental and emotional attitudes.
For me, MC was a blessing in multiple ways, firstly it explained years of weird symptoms, most of which faded away when I eliminated major triggers.
secondly it connected me with and allowed me to form friendships with people I would have not otherwise met!
Majority of the people in my life that I have regular contact with are from this forum...
and in majority of cases of our conversations do not involve MC related or health related topics!!
Sleep well tonight
it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but thanks to this board, and the wonderful caring supportive people here, you can get your life back.
Good on you for embracing it! reading and researching and finding your way. A big part of successful living with MC is our mental and emotional attitudes.
For me, MC was a blessing in multiple ways, firstly it explained years of weird symptoms, most of which faded away when I eliminated major triggers.
secondly it connected me with and allowed me to form friendships with people I would have not otherwise met!
Majority of the people in my life that I have regular contact with are from this forum...
and in majority of cases of our conversations do not involve MC related or health related topics!!
Sleep well tonight
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Sorry that you had to come here, but at the same time I think it's great that you have a diagnosis before your symptoms got too out of hand.
I have collagenous colitis and for the most part my symptoms were similar to yours. Sometimes I would eat something and get that feeling like I was going to explode. Otherwise I was mostly normal. Even during a flare it was watery D maybe 2-3 times per day tops. This went on from around age 14 until age 30. Then at 30 I had a flare with closer to 5-6 trips to the bathroom per day. My doctor put me on antibiotics and the next thing I knew I was living in the bathroom with crazy pains from my throat all the way to my butt! It's that easy to trigger a major flare.
So now you know you have this disease and can make choices that minimize your chance of a flare. Getting your diet figured out will make a huge difference. As far as medication, I never took it. By the time I was diagnosed I had already started an elimination diet. Most days I had D 1-2 times so we decided to try to manage without medication. It took a while, but it worked. Everyone is different though, so see what your doctor has to say.
I know not everyone is in the same situation that I am, but I don't find this disease to be a big life changer or anything. I still travel and eat out with friends, I'm just careful about what I order. If you avoid mass produced, fast food type places and go to smaller, independent places that focus on whole foods you can make it work.
Goodluck!
I have collagenous colitis and for the most part my symptoms were similar to yours. Sometimes I would eat something and get that feeling like I was going to explode. Otherwise I was mostly normal. Even during a flare it was watery D maybe 2-3 times per day tops. This went on from around age 14 until age 30. Then at 30 I had a flare with closer to 5-6 trips to the bathroom per day. My doctor put me on antibiotics and the next thing I knew I was living in the bathroom with crazy pains from my throat all the way to my butt! It's that easy to trigger a major flare.
So now you know you have this disease and can make choices that minimize your chance of a flare. Getting your diet figured out will make a huge difference. As far as medication, I never took it. By the time I was diagnosed I had already started an elimination diet. Most days I had D 1-2 times so we decided to try to manage without medication. It took a while, but it worked. Everyone is different though, so see what your doctor has to say.
I know not everyone is in the same situation that I am, but I don't find this disease to be a big life changer or anything. I still travel and eat out with friends, I'm just careful about what I order. If you avoid mass produced, fast food type places and go to smaller, independent places that focus on whole foods you can make it work.
Goodluck!
Thank you for all the support--I feel really lucky. And thanks, Chemgirl, for sharing. What you describe does sound very similar to what I've experienced, and just reinforces the fact that I feel lucky to have a diagnosis so soon. Hopefully I can avoid having any really serious flares, and if not, at least I'll know that my MC is at the root of it instead of being in the dark, wondering what's wrong.
I was on an elimination diet for the second half of last year (I was investigating food allergies as a possible source of my problem) and I feel like that really helped me to be more aware of what's in my food and to motivate me to make my own food all the time (mostly). So, obviously life's just pushing me in that direction--I'm going to be super healthy and aware of what I eat, which is great! And it's wonderful to know that not only am I not alone, but I can reach out on here if I have problems (and I'll be able to trust what you all say, as people who have been through it yourselves, instead of having to ask a doctor with no personal experience)!
Thanks, y'all!
Molly
I was on an elimination diet for the second half of last year (I was investigating food allergies as a possible source of my problem) and I feel like that really helped me to be more aware of what's in my food and to motivate me to make my own food all the time (mostly). So, obviously life's just pushing me in that direction--I'm going to be super healthy and aware of what I eat, which is great! And it's wonderful to know that not only am I not alone, but I can reach out on here if I have problems (and I'll be able to trust what you all say, as people who have been through it yourselves, instead of having to ask a doctor with no personal experience)!
Thanks, y'all!
Molly